Horticultural appliance for dispensing seeds onto seed beds

ABSTRACT

A frame is positionable over a surface area on which seeds are to be individually deposited at predetermined spacing. A plurality of elongated hoses are carried by the frame and have respective upper open ends located in a common plane and lower open ends which are also located in a common plane and which are positioned at the aforementioned predetermined spacing. A pickup element has a hollow interior and includes a plurality of nozzles communicating with the hollow interior and each dimensioned to pick up a single seed. Mounting means mounts the pickup element for movement between two positions in one of which the nozzles communicate with a supply of seeds and in the other of which each of the nozzles registers with one of the upper open ends. Actuating means is operable for applying suction to the hollow interior when the element is in its one position, and for applying pressure to the hollow interior when the element is in its other position, to thereby respectively engage individual seeds with and discharge them into the upper open ends from the nozzles.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Reinhard Kerker Meerwiese 784, Brake,Germany 21 AppLNo. 14,565 [22] Filed Feb. 26,1970

[45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [54] HORTICULTURAL APPLIANCE FOR DISPENSING211, 312; 222/74, 335; lll/l, 92-95 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,261,208 7/1966 Fisher 73/4256 2,546,838 3/1951 Tasche 221/211X 2,605,017 7/1952 Bolen 221/211 X 2,704,685 3/1955 Tyler lll/l XPrimary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. K ocovskyAlt0r ney--Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A frame is positionable over asurface area on which seeds are to be individually deposited atpredetermined spacing. A plurality of elongated hoses are carried by theframe and have respective upper open ends located in a common plane andlower open ends which are also located in a common plane and which arepositioned at the aforementioned predetermined spacing. A pickup elementhas a hollow interior and includes a plurality of nozzles communicatingwith the hollow interior and each dimensioned to pick up a single seed.Mounting means mounts the pickup element for movement between twopositions in one of which the nozzles communicate with a supply of seedsand in the other of which each of the nozzles registers with one of theupper open ends. Actuating means is operable for applying suction to thehollow interior when the element is in its one position, and forapplying pressure to the hollow interior when the element is in itsother position, to thereby respectively engage individual seeds with anddischarge them into the upper open ends from the nozzles.

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IIORTl-CULTURAL APPLIANCE FOR DISPENSING SEEDS ONTO SEED BEDS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tohorticultural appliances. and more particularly to a horticulturalappliance for individually positioning seeds at predetermined spacingfrom one another into seed flats, pots or the like.

Appliances of this general type are already known. They operatepneumatically and comprise a plate which is hollow and whose interior isconnectable with a source of suction. The plate is provided with aplurality of openings in a surface thereof and these openingscommunicate with the interior of the plate. Seed is poured or otherwisedeposited on the aforementioned surface and, with the interior of theplate connected with the source of suction, the plate is moved to assurethat each of the bores retains a seed which is pulled against thebore-but not through it because the bore is too small-by the internalsuction. The excess seeds are now poured ofi and the plate positionedwith its aforementioned surface closely above a seed flat or whateverother surface on which the seeds are to be deposited. whereupon thesource of suction is disconnected so that the individual seeds can droponto the surface where they are to be planted.

This known prior art construction has several disadvantages, among themost important of which is the fact that the necessarily closepositioning of the bores or openings in the hollow suction plate abovethe soil into which the seeds are to be planted before the suction canbe disconnected, brings with it the danger that the bores or openings bepartially or completely clogged by contact with the soil and make thedevice inoperative. A further disadvantage is the fact that a relativelylarge quantity of seeds must always be on hand to make it possible topour an adequate supply of seeds onto the apertured surface of thesuction plate in order to assure that each of the bores will retain aseed. Finally there are the additional disadvantages that the plate musthave at least the size of the surface area onto which the individualseeds are to be deposited, and that only round or substantially roundseeds can be planted in this manner whereas the device is not suitablefor elliptical seeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is. accordingly, an object of the presentinvention to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a horticulturalappliance of the general type under discussion which is not possessed ofthese disadvantages.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such an appliancewhich requires for only a comparatively small quantity of seeds to bekept on hand and can operate without having large quantities of seedpoured onto its apertured surface provided with the suction bores ornozzles.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide such an appliancewhich will reliably engage and retain only a single seed with eachnozzle. rather than being possessed of the danger that more than onesuch seed be engaged.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide such an appliancewhich is relatively simple in its construction and requires for itsoperation no particular skill.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one feature of my invention resides in a horticulturalappliance which, briefly stated, comprises frame means positionable overa surface area on which seeds are to be individually deposited atpredetermined spacing. A plurality of elongated conduits are carried bythe frame means and have respective upper open ends located in a commonfirst plane, and lower open ends located in a common second plane andpositioned at the aforementioned predetermined spacing. A pickup elementhas a hollow interior and includes a plurality of nozzles whichcommunicate with the hollow interior and which are each dimensioned topick up a single seed. Mounting means mounts the pickup element formovement between two positions in one of which the nozzle communicateswith a supply of seeds and in the other of which each of the nozzlesregisters with one of the upper open ends. Finally, actuating means isprovided and operable for supplying suction to the hollow interior whenthe element is in the aforementioned one position, and for :applyingpressure to the hollow interior when the element is in theaforementioned other position to thereby respectively engage individualseeds with and discharge them into the aforementioned upper open endsfrom the nozzle.

With this construction the conduits can be so arranged that their loweropen ends are spaced in the manner and at the distances (and/orpatterns) desired whereas the upper open ends can be located much closertogether so that accordingly the suction noules cooperating with theseupper open ends can also be located very closely adjacent one another.The result is a very compact construction and. because the suctionnozzles can be located very closely adjacent one another, the seedsupply can be accommodated in a relatively small container into whichthe suction nozzles enter as will be described later to pick up theseeds, so that only a comparatively small quantity of the seeds need beaccommodated in the container at any one time. This means that it is:not necessary to have large quantities of seeds on hand which are pouredliberally over the apertured surface of the suction plate as in theprior art construction.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammaticfront-elevational view of an appliance in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom-plan view of the pickup element of the appliance inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view of the embodiment in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side-elevational detail view of theactuating means for the appliance illustrated in the preceding Figures;

FIG. 5 is a top-plan view of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through asuction nozzle for the illustrated and disclosed appliance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing indetail it will be seen that my novel horticultural appliance comprisesin the illustrated em bodiment a frame I including a lower plate 6 andan upper plate 8. It is preferable but not absolutely necessary that theplates 6 and 8 be of transparent material, for instance a suitablesynthetic plastic. The frame I further comprises legs or supports 2projecting downward below the plate 6 with which it can rest on asupport surface. It is advantageous that the supports 2 be removable sothat they can be replaced by others which are either longer or shorter,thereby making it possible to position the underside of the plate 6 at aspacing from the support surface which is greater or lesser. Forinstance, if the novel appliance is used to deposit seeds in a seedflat, then the exchange of supports 2 for others makes it possi ble touse seed flats which are higher or lower, as the case may be. One suchseed flat is illustrated in its seeding position in FIG. 1 indiagrammatic broken line form. There are further provided two handles 4,5 which need of course not be of the I illustrated type (see FIG. I)which facilitate transportation of the rather small and lightweightappliance.

The plate 6 is mounted on and carried by the lower portion ill of theframe I and is provided with a plurality of apertures or bores, holes orthe like which are spaced from one another at distances and in a patterncorresponding to the distances and pattern at which the seeds aredesired to be deposited on a surface, such as in a seed fiat 3. Aplurality of conduits,

preferably hoses of transparent material, is identified with referencenumeral 7 and these each have lower ends 7 and upper ends 7". The lowerend 7' of each of the conduits 7 is received in one of the openings ofthe plate 6. It is advantageous although not necessary that a retainingmember of the type illustrated in FIG. 3 and identified with referencenumeral 24 be received in the respective holes of the plate 6, and thateach such retaining member 24 holds the lower end portion 7 of therespective conduit 7, to assure that the lower end portion 7 extendsnormal to the general plane of the plate 6, which plane of course is atleast generally parallel with the surface on which seeds are to bedeposited. Of course, the retaining members 24 could also bedifi'erently configurated and their particular configuration is not tobe considered limiting in any sense.

Although, as just pointed out, the spacing between the lower ends 7' ofthe conduits 7 corresponds to the spacing and pattern at which it isdesired to deposit the seeds on a surface, this is not necessary for theupper ends 7" of the conduits 7. Instead, these upper ends 7" can belocated closely together, as is suggested by the manner in which theconduits 7 are shown converging in upwards direction (see FIGS. I and3). The upper plate 8 advantageously also consists of transparentmaterial and is provided with a plurality of openings corresponding tothe number of upper open ends 7" and each receiving one of these upperopen ends. However, as already pointed out, the openings in the plate 8are very close together by contrast to those in the plate 6. The upperopen ends 7" are all located in a common plane, and those in the plate 6are similarly located in a common plane, with the two planes extendingin at least substantial parallelism with one another.

A pair of transversely spaced parallel linkages 9 is provided (seeFIG. 1) between which is mounted a hollow pickup element of generallybox-shaped configuration and identified with reference numeral 10. Thispickup element 10 is connected to the linkages 9 and its normallydownward directed side is provided with a plurality of openingscommunicating with the interior of the element 10 and provided withnoules 12 of generally tubular configuration. It is advantageous thatthese nozzles 12 be removable so that they can be replaced with othersof different inner diameter, of differing length or of generallydifferent characteristics as may be desired. In any case, the openingsand the tubular nozzles 12 associated therewith correspond in theirrelative spacing and arrangement to the spacing and arrangement of theupper open ends 7" of the conduits 7. If the element 10 is in theposition shown in FIG. 3, then the lower free ends of the tubularnozzles 12 extend into respective ones of the upper open ends 7" of theconduits 7.

If for any reason it is found difficult to properly guide the conduits 7so that their upper open ends are exactly vertical as desired, it ispossible to provide two of the plates 8 which are vertically spaced fromone another and which are both provided with identically arranged boresso that the upper open ends are held by the two plates 8 atlongitudinally spaced positions (with reference to the length of theconduits 7) and are thus prevented from shifting in their positions. Theuse of dual plates 8 is not illustrated but it is thought that thepossibility is clearly enough described to make it readilyunderstandable to those having skill in the art.

A further possibility is to mount the tubular nozzles 12 on a supportingplate 12' which they penetrate and which, in turn, is connectable withthe element 10. In this case the entire plate 12' with the associatednozzles 12 is removed and replaced with a front plate on which nozzles12 are provided which are either spaced and arranged in a differentpattern, are of larger or smaller inner cross-sectional diameter, orhave other desired characteristics. This is a particularly rapid way ofaccommodating the appliance for instance to the use of differentlydimensioned or configurated seeds.

The element 10 is connected via a flexible conduit-such as a hose or thelike-with an actuating device which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.This device comprises a first portion 14 provided with downwardprojecting pins 14b which extend through elongated slots provided in asecond portion 14' located below the portion 14b. The portion 14' isprovided with a pair of openings with which conduits l5 and 16respectively communicate and are secured. One of these conduits, in FIG.4 the conduit 15, communicates or can be made to communicate with asource of suction, and the other conduit such as in the drawing theconduit 16 communicates or can be made to communicate with a source ofpressure. Suction and pressure are identified with legends in FIG. 4 andit is pointed out that any suitable source can be provided, such as avacuum cleaner or analogous device. For instance, the suction andpressure side of the vacuum cleaner can be connected by means ofsuitable hoses with the conduits l5 and [6 respectively. However, it isclear that other sources of suction and pressure can also be provided ifdesired. In any case, the portion 14 is shiftable in the direction ofthe double-headed arrow A (see FIG. 4) with reference to the portion14', and because the hose 13 is fast with the portion 14 it also moveswith reference to the portion 14, and thus with reference to theconduits 15 and 16. Reference numeral 22 identifies a seal which assuresthat, when the hose 13 communicates with the open ends of the conduits15 or 16, respectively, a seal is established between the respectiveconduit and the hose 13. Thus, if the hose l3 communicates with theconduit 15, the hose and thereby the interior of the element 10 will beconnected with suction, whereas in the case of communication with theconduit 16 the hose l3 and the interior of the element 10 will beconnected to pressure. It should be emphasized in this connection thatthe device illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 could of course also bedifferently constructed, so that for instance the arrangement of thepins 14b and slots 14a could be reversed, or the member 14' be shiftableand the member 14 be stationary. This would not change the concept ofthe present invention.

Mounted on an upper portion 21 of the frame I is a chute 17 whose uppersurface is provided with guide ribs 18 and inclined in such a mannerthat the lowermost edge of the upper surface communicates with theinterior of a container 19 which is also mounted on the portion 21 ofthe frame 1 and which contains seeds to be picked up and planted by thenovel appliance. An adjustable abutment screw 20 provided on the frameportion 21 prevents the free ends of the tubular nozzles 12 fromabutting against the inside of the bottom wall of the container 19 whenthe element 10 is swung by means of the joindered parallel linkages 9 inthe direction of the doubleheaded arrow in FIG. 3 'so that the free endsof the tubular nozzles 12 communicate with the interior of the container19. Evidently, such abutment would bring with it the danger either ofdamage to the seeds or to the nozzles 12.

The underside of the seed container 19 is provided with suitable guidemeans, for instance the illustrated screws or bolts 23 which engage in aslot 25 of two guide rails 26 mounted on the frame 1 so as to permitlimited transverse displacement of the container 19 with reference tothe direction of movement of the element 10. In FIG. 3 the direction ofmovement of the element 10 is identified by the doubleheaded arrow inthe plane of the drawing, and movement of the container 19, which isdiagrammatically illustrated only, would take place in the directionnormal to the plane of FIG. 3. The purpose of such movement is to permitlimited lateral shaking movement for the container 19 if this is desiredor necessary to facilitate engagement of the seeds by the nozzles 12without, however, damaging either the seeds or the nozzles.

One such nozzle 12, particularly adapted for the pickup of generallyelliptical seeds, such as salad seeds, is illustrated in FIG. 6. It willbe seen that the nozzle 12 tapers conically inwardly as well asoutwardly towards its free end where its opening 12" is provided, andthe double inner and outer taper so reduces the wall thickness of thenozzle 12 that the wall does not provide an obstacle to the engagementunder suction of the seeds. Of course,'the dimensions of the opening 12"may differ in accordance with the-particular types of seed which thenozzles 12 are intended to pick up. For instance, the opening may be 0.8mm. diameter, it may be of 0.45 mm. diameter or it may have a differentdiameter as desired.

in operation of the novel appliance according to the present invention,the appliance is positioned over a surface on which seeds are to bedeposited via the lower open ends '7 of the conduits 7. if it is forinstance assumed that seeds are to be deposited in a seed flat 3, thenthis is first filled with suitable soil or other growth material such asmoist peat, and then the appliance is either placed over it or the flatis pushed underneath the plate ti. ln any case, the outlet ends 7' willnow be located closely above the upper surface of the soil, peat or thelike. Now the member M is displaced in a sense establishingcommunication between the hose M and the conduit which is connected to asource of suction. The element M3 is pivoted in the sense indicated bythe double-headed arrow in FIG. 3 until its underside from which thetubular nozzles 12 project is juxtaposed with the interior of theconduit 119, and the suction causes individual seeds to be attracted andheld against the open ends of the nozzles 112. To facilitate this thecontainer 119 may be laterally displaced or shaken, as mentionedbefore.Thereupon the element it) is displaced towards the left in H6. 3 untilit is substantially halfway between the container 119 and the plate 8.Because of the construction of the linkages 9 the element 110 will atthis point of its travel be upright, that is the nozzles 12 will extendin the direction in which they define substantially right angles withthe position which they assume when the element it) is in the positionshown in FIG. l. The free ends of the nozzles 112 with the seeds heldthereon are now visible to an operator. Abutment of the element 10 atthe rearedge of the hose connection is sufficient to cause excessattracted seeds-which are not properly held by suction by the respectivenozzles t2-to fall off onto the chute 17 where they are guided by theribs lltl into the interior of the container 19. A quick glance by theoperator will now show whether all of the nozzles 12 carry a seed asdesired, and thereupon the element 110 is pivoted until its lower sidefrom which the nozzles 12 project extends in at least substantialparallelism with the plate d, whereupon it is moved horizontally untileach of the nozzles 12 registers with an upper open end 7" of therespective conduits 7. The element lltl may also be lowered so that thefree ends of the nozzles l2 extend to a greater or lesser distance intothe respective upper open ends '7", if desired. ln any case, when theelement 110 is in the aforementioned position which is shown in H0. ll,the portion lid is shifted until the hose 113 communicates with theconduit connected to pressure, in the illustrated embodiment the conduitto. The interior of the element W is thus pressurized and the seeds arethrown off the respective nozzles 12 into the conduits 7 through whichthey fall to issue from the lower open ends 7' and become deposited onthe surface beneath them. Furthermore, this blowing-off process has theadditional advantage that the nozzles 212 are cleaned every time ittakes place, so that improper operation of the device as a result ofclogging of the nozzles i2 is reliably avoided.

lt will be appreciated that the entire period of time from pickup todischarge and planting of the seeds takes no more than a few seconds sothat the appliance according to the present invention makes possible avery high planting rate. This is true particularly because the appliancemakes it possible to remove seeds vertically from the container 19, andbecause the latter for this reason can contain a quantity of seedssufficient-depending upon the size of the seeds-to plant large surfaceareas, for instance to plant up to one hundred seed flats 3. Of course,because there is no pouring of the seeds involved as in the prior artconstructions, there is no danger of seed contamination and consequentmalfunction of the device as a result of the entry of contaminants fromthe seeds into the device.

Because of the compact and lightweight construction of the applianceaccording to the present invention, the appliance can be readily liftedand transported so that, if desired, the operator can readily move theappliance from seed flat to seed flat, rather than having to move theseed flats to the appliance and subsequently remove them again. Thesource of suction and pressure may, as pointed out before, he a vacuumcleaner or it may be a device analogous to a vacuum cleaner. If it isdesired to move the appliance at will, then it is advantageous to mountthe source of suction and pressure either in such a manner that theoperator may carry it as a back pack, or for instance to mount it onwheels so that the operator can pull this source-which of course isconnected with the device by the suction and pressure hoses-with him ashe moves the device from spot to spot.

it will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions difi'ering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in ahorticultural appliance, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended l. A horticultural appliance, comprising framemeans positionable over a surface area on which seeds are to beindividually deposited at predetermined spacing, and comprising asmaller upper and a downward spaced larger lower plate extending in atleast substantially parallel planes; a plurality of elongated conduitscarried by said frame means and having respective upper open endsconnected to said upper plate and located in a common first planeclosely together, and lower open ends connected to said lower plate andlocated in a common second plane positioned farther apart at saidpredetermined spacing; a pickup element having a hollow interior andincluding a plurality of nozzles communicating with said hollow interiorand each dimensioned to pick up a single seed; mounting means mountingsaid pick up element for movement between two positions in one of whichsaid nozzles communicate with a supply of seeds and in the other ofwhich each of said nozzles registers with one of said upper open ends;and actuating means operable for applying suction to said hollowinterior when said element is in said one position, and for applyingpressure to said hollow interior when said element is in said otherposition to thereby respectively engage individual seeds with anddischarge them from said nozzles into said upper open ends for movementto said lower open ends.

2. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduits arerespective hoses.

3. An appliance as defined in claim ll, said pick up element having aside which faces said upper open ends when said pick up element is insaid second position thereof; and wherein said nozzles are constitutedby tubular members projecting from said side and having free endportions registering with the respective upper open ends when said pickup element is in said second position.

d. An appliance as defined in claim i, said pickup element having twolateral margins; and wherein said mounting means comprises a pair ofjointed parallel linkages respectively located adjacent to and connectedwith said lateral margins.

5. An appliance as defined in claim ll, said lower plate having aplurality of holes therethrough and being positioned at saidpredetermined spacing, and wherein said conduits are flexible at leastin the region of said lower ends; and at least substantially rigid guidesleeves each received in one of said holes and connected with the lowerends of one of said conduits for maintaining at least said lower ends atleast substantially normal with reference to said parallel planes.

6. An appliance as defined in claim 1, said pickup element comprising afirst member having said hollow interior, and a second member releasablyconnected with said first member and provided with said nozzles; andfurther comprising at least one additional second member releasablyconnectable with said first member in place of the first-mentionedsecond member and provided with a plurality of nozzles differentlydimensioned than the first-mentioned nozzles.

7. An appliance as defined in claim 1, said pickup element comprising afirst member having said hollow interior, and a second member releasablyconnected with said first member and provided with said nozzles; andfurther comprising at least one additional second member releasablyconnectable with said first member in place of the first-mentionedsecond member and provided with a plurality of nozzles differentlyspaced than the first-mentioned nozzles.

8. An appliance as defined in claim I, said nozzles being tubular andhaving free ends and an inner and outer cross section which conicallytapers in direction towards said free ends whereby to decrease the wallthickness of said tubular nozzles in direction towards said free ends.

9. An appliance as defined in claim 1 and further comprising handlemeans on said frame means for transportation of said appliance by anoperator.

10. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said nozzles each have afree end and an inner passage tapering in direction towards therespective free end and having at the same an opening of0.45 mm.

11, An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said nozzles each have afree end and an inner passage tapering in direction towards therespective free end and having at the same an opening of0.8 mm.

12. An appliance as defined in claim I, said actuating means comprisinga flexible conduit connected to and communicating with the interior ofsaid pickup element and having a free end, a suction conduit and apressure conduit, and communication-establishing means for selectivelyestablishing communication between said free end and said suction andpressure conduits, respectively.

13. An appliance as defined in claim 12, said communication-establishingmeans comprising a first portion holding said suction and pressureconduits in predetermined relationship. a second portion holding saidfree end, one of said portions being shiftable relative to the otherbetween two locations in which said free end communicates with saidsuction and pressure conduits, respectively, and a sealing portionestablishing a seal between said free end and said suction and pressureconduit, respectively.

14. An appliance as defined in claim 1, and further comprisingadjustable abutment means cooperating with said pickup element forpermitting intrusion of the respective nozzles into the associated upperends to an adjustable extent when said pickup element is in said otherposition thereof.

15. An appliance as defined in claim 14, wherein said abutment meanscomprises an abutment screw.

16. An appliance as defined in claim I, wherein at least said conduitsconsist at least in part of transparent material.

17. An appliance as defined in claim 16, wherein said plates alsoconsist at least in part of transparent material.

18. An appliance as defined in claim 1 further comprising an upward opencontainer adapted to contain seeds and to constitute said supply ofseeds; connecting means connecting said container with said frame meansspaced from said upper open ends; and a guide member arrangedintermediate said upper open ends and said container for returning tothe latter such seeds as become separated from said pickup elementduring movement thereof from said one towards said second position.

19. An appliance as defined in claim 18, said element moving in apredetermined path between said positions thereof; and wherein saidguide member comprises an upper surface beneath said path and downwardinclined in direction from said upper open ends towards said container,and guide ribs provided on said upper surface and extending in saiddirection.

20. An appliance as defined in claim 18; further comprising cooperatingguide elements provided on said frame means and said container forenabling limited freedom of movement of the latter transversely to thedirection of movement of said pickup element.

l i 1 I

1. A horticultural appliance, comprising frame means positionable over asurface area on which seeds are to be individually deposited atpredetermined spacing, and comprising a smaller upper and a downwardspaced larger lower plate extending in at least substantially parallelplanes; a plurality of elongated conduits carried by said frame meansand having respective upper open ends connected to said upper plate andlocated in a common first plane closely together, and lower open endsconnected to said lower plate and located in a common second planepositioned farther apart at said predetermined spacing; a pickup elementhaving a hollow interior and including a plurality of nozzlescommunicating with said hollow interior and each dimensioned to pick upa single seed; mounting means mounting said pick up element for movementbetween two positions in one of which said nozzles communicate with asupply of seeds and in the other of which each of said nozzles registerswith one of said upper open ends; and actuating means operable forapplying suction to said hollow interior when said element is in saidone position, and for applying pressure to said hollow interior whensaid element is in said other position to thereby respectively engageindividual seeds with and discharge them from said nozzles into saidupper open ends for movement to said lower open ends.
 2. An appliance asdefined in claim 1, wherein said conduits are respective hoses.
 3. Anappliance as defined in claim 1, said pick up element having a sidewhich faces said upper open ends when said pick up element is in saidsecond position thereof; and wherein said nozzles are constituted bytubular members projecting from said side and having free end portionsregistering with the respective upper open ends when said pick upelement is in said second position.
 4. An appliance as defined in claim1, said pickup element having two lateral margins; and wherein saidmounting means comprises a pair of jointed parallel linkagesrespectively located adjacent to and connected with said lateralmargins.
 5. An appliance as defined in claim 1, said lower plate havinga plurality of holes therethrough and being positioned at saidpredetermined spacing, and wherein said conduits are flexible at leastin the region of said lower ends; and at least substantially rigid guidesleeves each received in one of said holes and connected with the lowerends of one of said conduits for maintaining at least said lower ends atleast substantially normal with reference to said parallel planes.
 6. Anappliance as defined in claim 1, said pickup element comprising a firstmember having said hollow interior, and a second member releasablyconnected with said first member and provided with said nozzles; andfurther comprising at least one additional second member releasablyconnectable with said first member in place of the first-mentionedsecond member and provided with a plurality of nozzles differentlydimensioned than the first-mentioned nozzles.
 7. An appliance as definedin claim 1, said pickup element comprising a first member having saidhollow interior, and a second member releasably connected with saidfirsT member and provided with said nozzles; and further comprising atleast one additional second member releasably connectable with saidfirst member in place of the first-mentioned second member and providedwith a plurality of nozzles differently spaced than the first-mentionednozzles.
 8. An appliance as defined in claim 1, said nozzles beingtubular and having free ends and an inner and outer cross section whichconically tapers in direction towards said free ends whereby to decreasethe wall thickness of said tubular nozzles in direction towards saidfree ends.
 9. An appliance as defined in claim 1 and further comprisinghandle means on said frame means for transportation of said appliance byan operator.
 10. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein saidnozzles each have a free end and an inner passage tapering in directiontowards the respective free end and having at the same an opening of0.45 mm.
 11. An appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said nozzleseach have a free end and an inner passage tapering in direction towardsthe respective free end and having at the same an opening of 0.8 mm. 12.An appliance as defined in claim 1, said actuating means comprising aflexible conduit connected to and communicating with the interior ofsaid pickup element and having a free end, a suction conduit and apressure conduit, and communication-establishing means for selectivelyestablishing communication between said free end and said suction andpressure conduits, respectively.
 13. An appliance as defined in claim12, said communication-establishing means comprising a first portionholding said suction and pressure conduits in predeterminedrelationship, a second portion holding said free end, one of saidportions being shiftable relative to the other between two locations inwhich said free end communicates with said suction and pressureconduits, respectively, and a sealing portion establishing a sealbetween said free end and said suction and pressure conduit,respectively.
 14. An appliance as defined in claim 1, and furthercomprising adjustable abutment means cooperating with said pickupelement for permitting intrusion of the respective nozzles into theassociated upper ends to an adjustable extent when said pickup elementis in said other position thereof.
 15. An appliance as defined in claim14, wherein said abutment means comprises an abutment screw.
 16. Anappliance as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said conduits consistat least in part of transparent material.
 17. An appliance as defined inclaim 16, wherein said plates also consist at least in part oftransparent material.
 18. An appliance as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising an upward open container adapted to contain seeds and toconstitute said supply of seeds; connecting means connecting saidcontainer with said frame means spaced from said upper open ends; and aguide member arranged intermediate said upper open ends and saidcontainer for returning to the latter such seeds as become separatedfrom said pickup element during movement thereof from said one towardssaid second position.
 19. An appliance as defined in claim 18, saidelement moving in a predetermined path between said positions thereof;and wherein said guide member comprises an upper surface beneath saidpath and downward inclined in direction from said upper open endstowards said container, and guide ribs provided on said upper surfaceand extending in said direction.
 20. An appliance as defined in claim18; further comprising cooperating guide elements provided on said framemeans and said container for enabling limited freedom of movement of thelatter transversely to the direction of movement of said pickup element.